Why does my iPad shows me a plug with an arrow pointing to an iTunes symbol when I power it up and what to do?

Question by
WILLIE JACKSON
/
August 5, 2012

When we power the iPad up, it won’t let us go to a home screen with icons, it just stays on the screen with the plug that has an arrow pointing to the iTunes symbol. When I try to connect the two, meaning the plug and the iTunes symbol, it does nothing.

It typically means that you need to open up iTunes on your PC, then connect the iPad to the PC via the USB cable. iTunes should then detect the iPad, and start the setup procedure (or restore settings if it’s a software fault).

You may need to turn it off (hold the home (square button) and lock button until it shuts off), plug it in, then turn it on again (hold home down til it starts up).

What error messages, if any, do you receive? Include any screenshots that are relevant.

Your operating system:

Your browser:

Search before you ask

Search MakeUseOf for similar questions before posting your question.The
search box is in the upper right.

Be clear

Use clear English. We edit questions before publishing, but if we cannot
understand your question, we will have to reject it.

State your goal, it helps us find solutions!

For example, it is much better to say “I want to extend my WiFi at home.
How should I do that?” than “How good are WiFi repeaters?”

Be detailed

Provide the details other people would need to answer your question. For
example, saying your phone is broken is not that helpful. Saying that your
Moto G phone with Android 4.4.2 shuts down every time you start Chrome
gives us a lot more to go on. Provide any relevant information such as
error messages, odd behavior, location (for location-specific questions),
etc.

Be nice

If you find a solution, please mark your question as answered and leave
a comment saying what worked (or didn’t work) for you. It will help others
with a similar problem to find a solution when they search the site. Thanks!

For tips on how to ask a question in order to get better answers faster,
please read
smart questions.